Now that's what you call timing.
Virgin1 gets its hands on TNA Wrestling for the first time, and it's the week the Hulkster, the Immortal Hulk Hogan, the Orange Goblin.. call him what you will. But it's the night probably the most famous pro-wrestler in history makes his TNA debut.
(Even though, strictly speaking, he actually appeared back in 2003, in an angle shot at the Tokyo Dome featuring him and Jeff Jarrett. Specifically, this one:
But that's by the by)
It's a move that's caught everyone - fans and commentators alike - completely on the hop. The first wind anyone got of it was when TNA banners were hung at Hogan's MSG press conference earlier today. Hogan had a tour lined of Australia next year - as does TNA - and the immediate reaction was that this must be some kind of resource-pooling. Or perhaps just a one-off stunt to promote his new autobiogrpahy.
It's still early days to know what the impact, for want of a better word, of Hogan moving to TNA will be. Indeed, to what extent he is joining the company.
Perhaps the only thing that's certain is that WWE won't take it lying down. Much as Vince McMahon doesn't want to acknowledge the competition, that TNA is a show stuck in ratings limbo, and that Hogan is a 50-something in the midst of a messy and expensive divorce who can't even hit his trademark move because of injury and age...despite all that, expect the WWE to fire some kind of salvo across TNA's bow. Because that's what McMahon does.
The gut reaction though is: Jesus Christ. What is this, 2000?
Hogan, Nash and Sting on top, Russo and Ferrara booking, Bischoff in a production/advisory capacity and a rich money mark pumping in cash for washed up old former WWE names at the expense of the talented cruiserweight undercard, all for PPVs that couldn't draw flies?
Stamford may own the WCW trademarks, but by god TNA owns the legacy.
